Morning all,

 

I've come to a point in life where I am in need of a change. A bit of background on me: I'm 28, and have had 2 jobs since graduating high school. First was a gas station attendant for a year and a half-ish, the second and current job is as a drafter/draftsman for a well regarded company in my area, going on my 9th year. The company is for the most part excellent, trying not to brag too much but just putting all the info out there: I pay $14 a month for health insurance including vision. I've had coworkers receive no bill for having kids, the company paid for it. I've also got a large sum of money that is set up by the company for retirement. I cant put money into it, however. I also make a touch over $22.50/hr. (started at $18/hr)

 

Now for the bad, I went to a technical high school for drafting, I had a passion for drawing cars and thought it would have been a good fit. Whelp, got into the field and turns out I cant stand the job anymore. Its all the same thing day in and day out. I've tried asking to be moved but that was met with a wall.

 

I've come to realize that I have a knack for fixing vehicles. And it turns out that a semi local diesel/high performance shop has an opening. they are offering insurance, training/performance incentives, paid time off, and holiday pay. They also put on dyno days with their in house dyno.

 

My only hang up is that I have only "shade tree" experience. All of my experience is my own vehicle or family vehicles. but I've been working on them since I was 17. The job posting isn't requiring an ASE cert or anything. they are offering $15-30/hr based on experience.

 

I'm looking for some outside thoughts on if this is a fools errand to follow through on. In benefits I know I'm giving up quite a bit, but when every day feels like an 8 hour wait to go home, and the thought of going to work is actually causing stomach knots, I'd say its time to head elsewhere.

 

Open to all thoughts, and thanks in advance.

2 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

Do what you have to do to be happy.

Those few words are "The" most important

I've never really deviated far from my very first full time job at 16, I did work in a garden nursery from 10 onwards at weekends and holidays and TBH really liked that but ££ was not good even after school so I made the right path for me

Met with the owner of the locksmith last week Thursday. Had an interview/talk/see where you might fit kind of meeting. It went well to the point that he basically said he wants to hire me, but with the company moving locations, he needs to see the way things rebuild after the move. Which should be this week. Hard part was the first time I called to set some thing up he already hired 2 locksmiths, one a week prior and one 2-3 days prior.

 

The owner is definitely not just resting on his customer base, he is actively trying to grow the business and he said more or less that I'm possibly the first of a few more hires as well..

 

He's moving his shop because while they have a retail store front, its a basement of a house that was converted to a store front, complete with basement height limits. there was also no parking that wasn't taken up by either the company vans or employee vehicles.

 

Fingers crossed this works out.. 

Edited March 30, 20223 yr by Silverwolf2691

4 years retired today. I highly recommend it. I looked good in my retirement attire....🤣😂🤣😂

Semi retired me, this was  18 months ago when I was 58

 

Now 60 and I really could not imagine working the hours I used to do which was between 60 and 80 a week (heavy plant mechanical supervisor....... read do it all myself)

Self employed in the same job for mostly the same company but on the smaller concrete and asphalt plant sites 

Ranges from no work for a week or so to 2 or 3 days a week but maybe 3 or 4 hours a day, suits me down to the ground, this month is service month so busy enough

 

Pic is me in Finland mid March  can't figure out how to spin the pic though DUH

8 hours ago, wil440 said:

can't figure out how to spin the pic though DUH

Here you go

 

I'm pushing 70 and have been semi-retired for the last 5 or so years.  My wife likes to say it's been the last 25 years. I still like to go out and fix things though.  I'm like @wil440and do 2 to 6 jobs a week and work 2 to 6 hours a day; start at 10AM and try to be home by 3PM.  Today I replaced a starter motor, tomorrow it will be front struts, next week rear shocks and another car's exhaust manifold gaskets and so it goes.  I'll stop when it's not fun anymore.

I am 70 and work 4 to 6 hour days 3 to 4 times a week. It's nice that I take rain days and entire winters off. I like my time off better when I work. Just the way I'm hung I guess. And then meeting up at camp is good twice a year. I do a lot of easy trail Mtn biking and metal detecting and eat most of IBMobiles food

@IBMobile and @JAG1 bout the same as me although I'm only 60 but need 2 hip replacements so I potter along at my own pace and take on what I want to take on for work and no more.

Putting the hip operations off as long as possible as that's a 6 months plus recoup, also as  IBMobile says  it's still fun fixing stuff.

Once the work is done 2 codeine and a few beers sorts the hips out so I'm good for now  

I may have to resort to some real medicine too eventually like Jack Daniels or even the most expensive smooth stuff I can find. My hips are okay but my one knee got hit with a hatchet at 12 years old and Wholy shinnikies hurts like a sum beach at nite. Don't know why it waited so long to start up again.

2 hours ago, JAG1 said:

Jack Daniels or even the most expensive smooth stuff I can find

I bought my buddy a $60 bottle of wheated bourbon for his birthday, not knowing what it was. While he and I both enjoy the intense flavors of rye, we were both amazed at how flavorful and smooth the wheated variety was. It was also ridiculously high in proof (over 120) yet no burn at all! Super smooth. Dangerous stuff, thankfully at that price we just limited ourselves to about half a shot glass each.

1 hour ago, LorenS said:

I bought my buddy a $60 bottle of wheated bourbon for his birthday, not knowing what it was. While he and I both enjoy the intense flavors of rye, we were both amazed at how flavorful and smooth the wheated variety was. It was also ridiculously high in proof (over 120) yet no burn at all! Super smooth. Dangerous stuff, thankfully at that price we just limited ourselves to about half a shot glass each.

Thank you for the tip Loren, I will have to try that as the stuff doc recommends doesn't work half the time and tastes terrible. LOL, would be a good idea to get a bottle for the guys at camp.

Edited April 2, 20223 yr by JAG1

6 hours ago, wil440 said:

Putting the hip operations off as long as possible as that's a 6 months plus recoup,

I had my left hip replaced 3 years ago.  It went soooo easy; walking a few steps that night, left the hospital the next day.  After 3 weeks I was out doing simple diagnostic jobs and by the 4th week doing brake jobs etc.  Post operation pain management was percocet for 3 days {got off that fast, could not concentrate}, then tramadol for 3-4 days, then acetaminophen and ibuprofen.   Do it and get out of pain.      

14 minutes ago, IBMobile said:

I had my left hip replaced 3 years ago.  It went soooo easy; walking a few steps that night, left the hospital the next day.  After 3 weeks I was out doing simple diagnostic jobs and by the 4th week doing brake jobs etc.  Post operation pain management was percocet for 3 days {got off that fast, could not concentrate}, then tramadol for 3-4 days, then acetaminophen and ibuprofen.   Do it and get out of pain.      

It's coming and faster than I'd like..... funnily enough you're the 2nd person that has had a hip replacement tell me to get it done asap

I fractured two vertebrae today, but at least it will heal on its own and I can walk. I hope I never need knee or hip surgery! That would be awful not walking for a while.

35 minutes ago, LorenS said:

I fractured two vertebrae today,

That sucks!  Heal fast.

2 hours ago, LorenS said:

I fractured two vertebrae today, but at least it will heal on its own and I can walk

Ouch.

 

No kidding... Stay down and let it heal... 

9 hours ago, LorenS said:

I fractured two vertebrae today, but at least it will heal on its own and I can walk. I hope I never need knee or hip surgery! That would be awful not walking for a while.

Dang!!!!

How did you do that?

Don't push it, let your body heal fully.

Thanks everyone. They just let me out of the hospital and wife is driving me home now. Lots of rest is on the schedule!

 

I was trimming limbs and one kicked out and knocked the ladder out from underneath me.

 

The thing is, I actually went to the garage to get a strap/rope to fasten the ladder. By the time I walked to the garage I forgot why I went in there! So, here I am.

 

The 10 pound weight restriction is going to be tough!

You have plenty of time to hang out here replying to posts. 

Best wishes for a speedy recovery @LorenS.

 

@wil440, operations nowadays they dont have you just laid up for 6 weeks then physical therapy. Its closer to what @IBMobile described. They have you moving very quickly after the operation. 

 

Turns out that not moving the operated on area causes atrophy and other complications that actually increase the healing time.